Dad's Beaver Co Times Obituary + Inside the Conte Compound Pics

Published: Thursday, May 29, 2014 4:00 am

John A. Conte, Esq., 86, of Conway, passed peacefully on Sunday, May 25, 2014.

Born Sept. 19, 1927, in San Marco, Italy, he was a son of the late Giuseppe and Rosina Maria Colagrossi Conte. A U.S. Navy veteran, having served as a Yeoman in World War II, he was a founding member and active parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Parish.

Having immigrated from Italy at age 7 and not even speaking English, he rose to become a prominent Beaver County Attorney with a private legal practice in Conway for nearly 50 years. Early in his career, his successful work in murder trials led to his being consulted by Melvin Belli, the defense attorney of Jack Ruby for killing Lee Harvey Oswald. Atty. Conte was a pioneer in medical malpractice, winning in 1984 the largest verdict that had been obtained in 19 years within Beaver County. Recognized as a 60 year member of the Beaver County Bar Assoc., he also served as their past president and member of the Board of Governors.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Thomas J. Taverna and his brother, Anthony A. Conte.

Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Joan Ellen Erzen Conte; six children, Cheryl (Gary) Jamis, Cynthia 'Cinders' Kahele, Joseph Conte, Alane (David) Scheider, Maureen Conte and John (Deanna) Conte, Jr.; five grandchildren, Nicole (Veronica), John 'Bubs,' Zachary, Aaron and Leah; a sister-in-law, Josephine Conte, and two nephews, David (Allison) and Darrel (Sharon) Conte and their families.

Family and friends will be received today 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday 1 to 6 p.m. in the POLAND FUNERAL HOME INC., 901 First Ave., Conway, where Prayers will begin Saturday at 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Conway. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Freedom.

Members of the Beaver County Special Unit will meet at the cemetery at 12:15 p.m. to provide full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or the Beaver County Humane Society.

Inside the Conte Compound Pics

                         mio padre e mia nonna Conte for my high school graduation 1988

We can still ever so lovingly picture Dad sitting here

 "The Spanish Room is called the Spanish Room because of the Spanish sconces and tile." - my hilarious, smart & beautiful mother

My mother is a very good cook even though she is not Italian :) !!! & is Austrian / German ... when my wife & i moved in together and could not make egg salad because we did not now how to boil eggs she immediately went into action and purchased us the Betty Crocker Cook-Book telling my wife it is the Bible of the kitchen.

ok il resto della casa è privata, quindi devo mostrarvi la porta ora!

This is a spring May view from behind the garage and what we would refer to as the sideyard off the patio. Further down the yard to the right beyond where the giant Magnolia tree is located is where the family vegetable garden used to be that my step-grandfather, who lived 6 months out of the year on Mercer Island in Seattle, WA and the other half of the year in Honolulu, HI, would work in and help tend to after my Uncle Leo Conte who also lived in Seattle (and only traveled by the railroad) would start for us every year.

The courtyard (or, at least, part of it)

Thank you, Dad! 

Without you I would never be allowed to be the man I am.

Grazie.

Ciao,

Gianni Conte

"Johnny"